Dysphagia and dementia in subjects with Parkinson's disease

This study reviewed the medical records of 19 patients with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease listed on the death certificate who died between June 1985 and July 1990. The presence or absence of dementia separated the patients into two groups. The study examined the age at time of death, number and type of secondary diagnoses, frequency of dysphagia diagnosis, and therapeutic dietary differences. The presence of dementia did not influence the age at time of death. Dysphagia was a common diagnosis for each group. Differences in treatment of dysphagia were found to be dependent on the presence or absence of dementia.